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I listen to him mutely, my eyes trained on his as I read each lie. I’ve come to learn that my father, Roberto Calavera,is a master manipulator. A liar by trade.
I count in my head and force myself to stay silent.
Silence always makes people uncomfortable and being uncomfortable means filling the awkwardness with words. I just hope there’s enough time for him to tell me everything, or at least something that can actually help me fuck his world up.
His apologies mean little to nothing. Even if they were real, they don’t cure the hurt and they don’t heal the wounds. They most certainly don’t help me navigate this shit bucket he’s thrown me into. His poor excuse of a solution is to run away first chance he gets, and though this morning I would have felt the same -it was my original plan, after all- but if the leaders of this cultist town are really as bad as I’ve been told, I’m sure there are precautionary measures in place to keep that from happening again.
No, running won’t work, it’s time to be a Calavera and ruin some lives.
“I deal in facts, dad. You know this. I’m not even hearing your“apology,”I air quote, “because all I’ve seen, all that I’ve come to learn, is that you are a man with many masks. A ruthless cutthroat mask, a high school sweetheart mask, a liar, a man who abandons.”
I blink away the angry tears and take a breath, “I know who you truly are, so save us both sometime and just tell me what you’ve gotten me into.”
His face morphs into the snake he really is, lifeless and vile, but I honestly don't care.
“Start at the beginning.”
Before he can even open his mouth, there’s a knock at the door.
My breath catches and my eyes when Mateo walks in, a sharp smile on his face that screamsI know all your dirty little secrets.
The night of the bonfire flashes in my mind, his mouth and touches whisper across my skin, making heat rise to my face.
“Roberto. Valeria.” He dips his head and again I have to school my features.
I bite my tongue, wanting to demand what he fuck he’s doing here but not wanting my father to know jack shit either. Thankfully, Roberto speaks before I can spew anything.
“Ah, I see your father’s punishment is working out well.” He chuckles as he moves the silverware out of the way while Mateo places long stemmed glasses before us. While my father isn’t looking, Mateo gives me an almost inconceivable shake of the head like he’s telling me not to say anything. Fine by me, but I will be bombarding him later.
“If waiting tables is considered punishment for running a gambling ring over the last five years, then yes, I guess it is.” He replies to Roberto.
My brow quirks up.A gambling ring?This guy can’t be much older than me. Maybe just a year or two.
Dad’s slick grin irritates me, “Is waiting tables like a blue-collar citizen not harsh enough for you?”
My father’s question has me grinding my teeth. Who the fuck does he think he is? Did he forget blue collar is where I come from? He acts as though anyone with a smaller bank account is somehow less than him.
The fragile stem of my glass snaps in my hand, the champagne spilling all over the table and interrupting the insulting conversation.
My father turns to me with irritation in his eyes, so I shake my hand clear of glass while giving him a sweet smile.
“Whoopsies.”
They both stare at me, my father with a disgusted look and Mateo with a slight grin.
“Mateo, meet my daughter. Valeria, this is Mateo Del Toro. He is your brother’s best friend. I’m sure you’ll be seeing plenty of each other once the semester begins.”
Ah, he’s Rey’s best buddy. I give him a disinterested nod of my head, as I flick glass away from me. I’m sure he and Rey had a good laugh at my expense a time or two.
“Bienvenido a Coventry, princesa.”
Welcome to Coventry, princess.
It’s the same welcome Rey gave to me, only less psychotic and moreI’m going to eat you alive and make you beg for more.
Maybe Mateo here would be a good way to get at Rey. A little quid pro quo…only, I’ll be the one gaining the advantage. Use him against his friend and possibly get him on my side.
I picture how rattled Rey would be if he were to see his best friend suddenly close to me and a genuine smile curls up my lips.
